1. How many students have been graduated from the unit since the college or university first offered a professional program?

Since 1973, when the present unit was formed, about 8,000. Since the mid-1930s, when the precursors to the present unit were formed, about 12,000.

2. List by specialty each member of the graduating journalism/mass communications class of three years ago (give year) and those graduates’ current jobs. Include “unknown” entries.

Advertising (52)
Winston Hyatt Baccus, art director, Dream Inc., Jackson, MS
Melinda Robinson Barcum, unknown
Kayla Renee Brown, unknown
Kimberly Hope Brown, unknown
Eleanor Kathryn Buck, unknown
Bronwyne Marie Carr, unknown
Michael Joseph Christopher, unknown
Mary Kathleen Cochrane, unknown
Margaret Frances Connor, unknown
Stephane Still Davis, unknown
Andora Jamelle Gandy, human resources specialist, Montgomery Advertiser
Kelly Michelle Garrett, unknown
Matthew Allen German, unknown
Brian Heath Giles, unknown
Micah Isaac Goldberg, unknown
Roderick Allen Guillen, communications specialist, Office of Marketing, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Richard Colby Hanna, unknown
Gordon Hirsch, unknown
Chad Douglas Hol, unknown
James Keenan II, unknown
Griando Jabari Kelly, unknown
Yeunhee Kim, unknown
Shelby Elizabeth Kimbell, advertising sales representative, Montgomery Advertiser
Rodney Bryan Kirkland, sales force, Kirkland Enterprises, Tuscaloosa, AL
Virginia Ellen Langbehn, unknown
Gregory Stewart Lawson, account manager, Lamar Outdoor Adv., Tuscaloosa
Kimberly Dianne Malone, unknown
Jennifer Claire McClendon, unknown
Andrew Michael Melton, MBA student, Wake Forest University
Ginger Suzanne Meyer, unknown
Jeremy Jason Miles, unknown
Jeffrey Dean Ort, unknown
Michael Charles Pompa, account executive, Montgomery Advertiser
Henry Allen Popee, unknown
Erin Elizabeth Potter, unknown
Celia Elizabeth Pruette, sales associate, Commercial Real Estate, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, New York.
Richard Burdette Reider, unknown
Scott Joseph Saulnier, unknown
Christopher Lee Seiger, copywriter, Britton Advertising, Montgomery Ala.
Jeramie Lamon Simmons, assistant account executive, Rapp Collins Worldwide, New York
Louis Clayton Smith, unknown
Zachary Ashton Smith, account executive, Import/Export Co., San Diego; also has released first album as a professional singer.
Darlene Speight, unknown
Susan Elizabeth Speir, account executive, Davis Denny Advertising and Public Relations, Birmingham Ala.
Eric Jennings Stewart, sales force, Allegiance Telecom, Denison, Texas
Christopher Michael Thomas, unknown
James Thomas, unknown
Sheri Lynne Thomas, unknown
Susan Diane Thomas, unknown
April Mathis Voris, client services manager, Cole Henderson Drake, Atlanta, GA
John Gregory Wells, unknown
Stacey Lynne Wright, designer, Hallmark Corp, Lexena, Kans.
Ashley Elisabeth Yarbrough, unknown
George Zannetos, unknown

APR Master’s
Jennifer Ann Bachmann, marketing representative, Coca-Cola Bottling, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Stacy Lee Burgess. community relations director, Arts Council of Tuscaloosa
David Coy Callison, assistant professor, School of Communication, Texas Tech University (Ph.D., Alabama, 2001)
Amanda Leigh Clark, unknown
Shellie Dionne Covan, unknown
Harold Gary Creek, vice president, Totalcom Advertising & Marketing, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Michelle Yvette Doss, unknown
Cassandra Imfeld Gajkowski, Ph.D. student, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill
John Robert Jameson, unknown
Lauren Nyreen Mancini, account executive, Godwin Group, Jackson, MS
David Bruce Page, media buyer, Creative Alliance, Louisville, Ken.
Patricia Michelle Price, editor, special advertising sections, Tuscaloosa News
Myrto Schini, unknown
Karli K. Taylor, unknown
Ashley Elizabeth Whittemore, public relations, Genoa (shoes), New York

Ph.D.
Joe Bob Hester, Jr., assistant professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill
John Martin Hoerner, assistant professor, mass communication, University of Montevallo
Mary Ellen Maxwell, administrative assistant, Institute for Communication Research, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
James Foy McCollum Jr., associate professor, communication, David Lipscomb College
Arthur A. Raney, assistant professor, Department of Communication, Florida State University
Stephanie Lee Sargent, assistant professor, Department of Communication, Virginia Tech
Kevin L. Stoker, assistant professor, journalism, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Journalism
Hope Mccormick Akers, features editor, Dothan Eagle
Todd Carl Anderson, assistant sports information director, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Julie Dalton Andrews, managing editor, Point of Purchase magazine, Atlanta
Sydney Denise Aron, freelance writer, Tuscaloosa
Nathan James Bode, unknown
Mark Ian Bosley, freelance writer, Denver, Colo.
Brannon Keith Boswell, assistant editor, Automotive & Transportation Interiors Magazine, Montgomery
Michael Richard Braunstein, free-lance writer, Tel Aviv, Israel
Angela Nicole Comerford, communication specialist, DCH Medical Center, Tuscaloosa Ala.
Cindy Crawford, unknown
Kimberly Hisako Cross, journalism graduate student, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala., former Business 2.0 reporter and current freelance writer.
Daniel Roy Cusick, M.A., science writer, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Jeremy Evan Denson, unknown
Randi Michelle Douglas, reporter, Jonesboro Sentinel (Ga.)
Kelly Dugan, reporter, Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Ala.
Jennifer Lynn Fennell, graduate student, Boston University
Courtney Shay Fingar, graduate student, London School of Economics, London, England
Cindy Fisher, reporter, Daytona Beach News-Herald
Brian William Gann, sports writer, Fayette County Record
Shelley Elizabeth Geiger, communication specialist, Alagasco, Birmingham, Ala.
Shani Anzelle Gentry, director of product testing, MerlinOne, Inc., Boston, Mass.
Joshua Shawn Gilliam, graduate student in forestry, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
Brandon Michael Harder, unknown
Jason Glenn Harris, owner, Jason Harris Photography, Montgomery, Ala.
David Lowrance Harry III, unknown
Amy Haun, managing editor, Ft. Walton Beach NW Florida Daily News, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Mark Benjamin Heim, sports writer, Mobile Register, Mobile Ala.
Kristen Jones Holmes, M.A., editorial assistant, PELA, Tuscaloosa, Ala
Kristy Franklin Hunt, unknown
Hirokazu Iwata, freelance photographer, New York
Sage M. Johnson, public relations, International Paper Company, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jennifer Elaine Jones, human performance consultant, Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting), Washington DC.
Dan Mangis, Ph.D. student, University of Texas-Austin
Michael Zachary Martin, reporter, Jasper Daily Mountain Eagle
Jannell Denise McGrew, reporter, Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Ala.
Vincent Douglas Moore, sports editor, Nola Live, New Orleans
Brian Patrick Moran, reporter, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta, GA
Kelli Michele Moses, no information
Laquita Renee Owens, editorial assistant, Southern Progress Corp., Birmingham
Madoka Ozaki, no information
Charla Bradlie Parton, Patient Care Coordinator, Lash Group Healthcare and Reimbursement Consulting Services), Charlotte, N.C.
Julieann Pelchar, sports editor, Reading Eagle (Pa.)
Shannon Clare Pollock, unknown
Susan Elizabeth Reynolds, unknown
Linda Ann Robbins, copy editor, Lakeland Ledger, Lakeland, Fla.
Carrie Elizabeth Rome, unknown
Russell Stephen Scott, public relations, city of San Francisco
Jason Alan Skinner, reporter, Vulcan Publications, Birmingham
Amanda Oakley Smythe, free-lance photographer, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Roy Johnson Stone, graduate student, University of Alabama
Kenyetta Nakia Stovall, staff writer, Randall Publications Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jason Michael Vetter, teacher, Hillsborough County, Fla., public schools, freelance sports writer.
we last talked a couple of years ago.
Granison McGee Wagstaff, no information
Heather Carol Wright, no information
David Jonathan Zitner, law school, University of South Carolina

Public Relations
Laurie Anna Acker, unknown
Zachary Stuart Ashbee, unknown
James Branden Axtell, unknown
Meredith Alison Baker, unknown
Sonali Michelle Balasuriya, unknown
Milinda Daniel Bales, unknown
David Robert Barron, unknown
Audra Lavere Bean, unknown
Leigh Ann Blackwood, unknown
Alice Clayton Braddock, unknown
Stephanae Redmon Bruno, unknown
Carla Whitehurst Burns, unknown
Nikki Langford Bush, homemaker, Hueytown, Ala.
Angela Catherine Cameron, unknown
Matthew Keith Carter, unknown
Shuk Yee Chan, unknown
Pamela Till Chancey, unknown
Corrie Leigh Collins, unknown
Meredith Lestra Corey, unknown
Julie Laree Davis, unknown
Shelley Anne Dennis, unknown
Corey Alexander Ealons, unknown
Elizabeth Weidner Ehrensing, unknown
Mary White Etheredge, unknown
Bradley Harden Ezell, unknown
Felisha Gail Fowler, unknown
David Anthony Franklin, unknown
David Chadden Goss, U.S. Marine Corps
Kelli Michelle Griffin, unknown
Norman Osaygefo Grubbs, unknown
Katherine Stokes Hammond, unknown
Mary Margaret Healy, unknown
Michael Julian Hesse, United Way executive, Macon, Ga.
Griffin Lamar Hill, unknown
Julie Ann Holderfield, unknown
Angella Rachelle Horn
Christian H. Hulten, assistant director, PACERS Program for Rural Services, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jessica Sue James, unknown
Jeffrey Chad Janes, unknown
Lacey Lynne Johnson, unknown
Blair Clinton Jones, unknown
Christopher Phillip Jordan, unknown
Meredith Lee Jowers, unknown
William Joseph Kendall, unknown
Charles Freddie Kitchens, running backs coach, University of North Texas
Bethany Anne Kosinsky, flight attendant, American Airlines, Chicago
Leigh Ellen Kraselsky, social worker, Bradford Adolescent Center, Pelham, Ala.
Michael Andrew Kurth, unknown
Patra Marie Lang, unknown
Jill Marie Letcher, unknown
Zachary Johnson Littlefield, unknown
Christopher Scott Logan, unknown
Kathleen Minniece Maharrey, unknown
Emily Marie Marbutt, unknown
Kathryn Woolwine McAllister, executive, Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Council, Atlanta
Mary Hilliard McMillan
Christopher Matthew McNeese, unknown
Rachel Erin McRay, unknown
Jonathan Heath Mixon, unknown
William Scott Mize, unknown
Phajvar Pat Mom, unknown
Allison Brooke Moore, unknown
Hunter Spencer Morano, unknown
Lance Anthony Muzik, unknown
Melinda Patrice Newbill, sales staff, WTTO, Birmingham
Lucas Evangelo Nicholas Jr., unknown
Dustin Michael Peugeot, unknown
John David Phillips, unknown
Rhonda Cay Phillips, unknown
William Bradley Porter, unknown
Heather Lashea Rice, unknown
Joseph Oscar Richard III, unknown
Caroline Lea Ritchie, unknown
Alyson Marion Scott, unknown
Catherine Key Scott, unknown
James Michael Shelby, unknown
Rachel Elizabeth Shields, unknown
Leah Claire Short, unknown
Jessica Mary Silverberg, communication staff, SouthTrust Bank, Nashville, Tenn.
Allison Sims Skelly, unknown
Jack Thomas Sparks Jr., unknown
David Lee Speigner, unknown
Samuel Matthew Suiell, unknown
Christy Marquitta Stamps, unknown
Laurel Justine Stepp, unknown
Damon Augustus Stevenson, unknown
Molly Dobson Stone, PR graduate student, University of Alabama
Michael Joseph Storelli, unknown
Laura McLane Stringer, unknown
Bryan McDaniel Taylor, unknown
Tedford Taylor, unknown
Robb Lee Thornton, unknown
Cristin Nicholson Tucker, unknown
Jeb Scott Veal, unknown
Shelley Jeanne Young, unknown
Anthony Scott Zeidler, unknown

Telecommunication and Film
Khaled Ali-Attar, unknown
Jason O'Neal Batey, unknown
Sara Elizabeth Baumgartner, anchor/reporter, WEAR-TV, Pensacola
Amanda Leigh Black, unknown
Atokie Shondriko Boman, unknown
Jon Michael Bradley, unknown
Christina Lee Brent, unknown
Karen Lynn Brooks, reporter/anchor WVUA7-TV, Tuscaloosa
Stacy Buersmeyer Cahalley, unknown
George Daniel Campbell, unknown
Kenneth James Carruth, unknown
Gena Michelle Clements, unknown
Jason Arthur Cofar, 680 FAN Radio, Atlanta
Joseph Amile Cole, anchor, KXRM-TV Fox 21, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Catherine K. Cook, unknown
Hollie Gayle Cooper, reporter, WVUA7-TV, Tuscaloosa
Michael W. Corley, communications specialist, Alabama Power Company
Ryan Chadwick Crawford, unknown
Jonathan David Crowe, unknown
David Scott Donaldson, unknown
Jenny Nicole Dudley, unknown
Susan Ann Edwards, assignments editor, Carrolton (Ga.) News-Herald
Frances Gail Ehrlich, unknown
Barry Jerome Evans, unknown
Roxanne Maclean Farmer, unknown
Christopher Mack Ferguson, production assistant, Alabama Public Television, Montgomery
Jamie Allison Fisher-Stephens, reporter, WDSI-TV (Fox) Chattanooga
Erin Marie Floyd, unknown
Joseph Dismas Gehrdes, unknown
James Fulton Gray, unknown
Amanda Lea Graydon, unknown
Richard Daniel Harmon, unknown
Charles Michael Haun, reporter, Daytona Beach News-Herald
John Patrick Hayden, sports information specialist, University of Alabama
Anne-Marie Hill, unknown
Tanya Renay Holt, unknown
Carrie Beth Hunter, on-air personality, Clear Channel Radio, Asheville, N.C.
Brett Richard Jacobs, unknown
Phillip Jordan Jarrett, social worker, Department of Family and Children Services, Albany, Ga.
Kelly Amanda Jones, unknown
Eric Tillman King, unknown
Charles David Kuntz, Graduate Student, Information Systems, University of South Alabama, Mobile
Haley Dews Kuntz, 10th grade English/Drama/Media teacher, Alma Bryant High School, Mobile
David Andrew Lamb, news anchor, TV42, Birmingham
Amy Lawrence, unknown
Miranda Marie Lundeen, unknown
Ryan Michael Maddox, unknown
Shelley Anne Malcolm, communication staff, Office of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Michigan), Washington, D.C.
Anthony Edward McClinton, video-media specialist, Tuscaloosa City Schools
Ronda Denice Mitchel, unknown
Nicole Layton Mooney, unknown
Gregory Gillis Morgan, unknown
Julia Kelly Murphy, missionary in Thailand
Melissa Riopka, anchor, WRBC-TV, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Scott Davis Robison, unknown
Matthew Stephen Roper, unknown
Christopher Paul Sign, reporter, ABC 33/40, Birmingham
Jeb Stuart Smith, unknown
Leslie Ann Thomason, unknown
Jacy Noelle Thompson, marketing assistant, Southern Food Services Management, Birmingham
Kimberly Anne Wacker, unknown
Deana Marie Watkins, news assistant, CNN, Atlanta
Michael Warren Weber, reporter, WKNI-TV, Florence, Ala.
Heather Lynn Wills, promotions assistant, TV18, Dothan
Douglas Vincent Wolf
Hong-Sik Yu, graduate student, University of Alabama


3. List names of earlier graduates who have established distinguished records over the years.

Halimah Abdullah, reporter, Dallas Morning News, Newsday
Joe Adams, publisher, Southern Star. Newspaper has been in the same family for 150 years.
Mel Allen, Hall of Fame broadcaster, deceased
Dale Allison, vice president, University Relations, UAB
H. Brandt Ayers, publisher and editor, Anniston Star
Bert Bank, president emeritus, Alabama Radio Network
Keith Barze, general manager, WBRC-TV, Birmingham, assistant dean, C&IS, retired
Norman Bassett, editor, Tuscaloosa News, deceased
Gould Beech, writer, editor, civil libertarian, deceased
Bob Blalock, editorial page editor, Birmingham News
William Bobo, Jr., foreign editor, Miami Herald
Bill Bolen, news anchor, WBRC-TV
Jo Bonner, U.S. congressional nominee, congressional assistant
James B. Boone Jr., Chairman, Boone Newspapers Inc. (journalism minor)
Stephen E. Bradley, principal, Bradley-Townsend Communications, Birmingham
Cruse Braswell, advertising executive, Atlanta
Staci Brown Brooks, copy editor, Birmingham News
Bob Bryan, owner-publisher, Bryan Publications, Cullman, Ala., deceased
Bob Bryan Jr., managing editor, Pensacola News Journal
Joseph Bryant, reporter, Florence TimesDaily, Freedom Forum/ASNE fellow
Jerdan Bullard, radio station executive, president of Alabama Broadcasters Association and executive director, Alabama Broadcasters Assn.
Bob Burke, vice president, communications, Newspaper Association of America, newspaper consultant
Dozier Cade, director, School of Journalism, University of Tennessee, retired
Butler Cain, news director, Alabama Public Radio
Bob Carlton, entertainment columnist, Birmingham News
Ron Casey, Pulitzer Prize winning editorial page editor, Birmingham, deceased
Mike Casey, public relations executive, Alabama Power Company
Tom Cherones, TV director, Seinfeld, et. al.
Mark Childress, journalist and novelist, New York
John J. Cochran, chief White House correspondent, ABC
Donald Coe, editorial page editor, Chicago Sun
Bob Cohn, chairman, Cohn and Wolfe Public Relations, Atlanta, vice president, Burson-Marsteller
Barry B. Copeland, former Birmingham TV news anchor now governmental affairs director, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
Phillip D. Cox, general manager, WXXV-TV, Fox 25, Biloxi, MS
Edward C. Darling Jr., publisher, Cullman Times
Rece Davis, anchor, ESPN
Patricia Dedrick, Montgomery bureau chief, Birmingham News. First woman and first African-American to head a state capital bureau in Alabama
Danny DeJarnette, news editor, Tuscaloosa News
Robin DeMonia, editorial writer and columnist, Birmingham News
William Patrick Dinan, advertising executive, Southern Progress
Dave DuBose, vice president, Cox Radio Group, Birmingham
Douglas Edwards, CBS News anchor and correspondent, deceased
Debbie Elliott, Southern correspondent, National Public Radio
Elmo I. Ellis, VP Cox Broadcasting, columnist, author, Atlanta, semi-retired
Vince Ellis, sports editor, Lansing Journal
Robin DeMonia, editorial writer and columnist, Birmingham News
John Faber, founding president, National Press Photographers Assn., deceased
John Fleming, editorial page editor, Anniston Star
John Forney, president, Luckie and Forney, Voice of Crimson Tide, deceased
Kathy Geiger-Schwab, Chicago advertising executive
Mark Gottfried, head basketball coach, University of Alabama
Jan Crawford Greenberg, Supreme Court reporter Chicago Tribune; commentator, The News Hour; correspondent, WGN-TV, Chicago
Janet Griffith, vice president, University Relations, University of Alabama
Sandy Grossman, president, ABC sports
Eric Gwinn, copy editor, Chicago Tribune
Cody Hall, executive editor, Anniston Star, deceased
Jim Hall owner, Jim Hall Associates, newspaper broker
Chris Harris, Middle Tennessee State journalism professor
Wendell Harris, TV executive, Alabama and Texas, retired
Bruce Harrison, president, Bruce Harrison PR
Alec Harvey, entertainment editor, Birmingham News
Sam Harvey, editor, Advertiser-Gleam, Guntersville, Ala.
William M. Harville Jr., CEO Landmark Communications, Birmingham
Shelly Haskins, business editor, Huntsville Times
John Hasselwander, news editor, Mobile Register
Deborah Heard, deputy style editor, Washington Post
J. Frank Helderman Jr., publisher, Florence TimesDaily, retired
Randy Henderson, metro editor, Birmingham News
Leslie Hendrix, WMBB-TV anchor/reporter, Panama City
Suzanne Henson, food editor, Southern Progress Co., Birmingham
Skip Hinton, president, Southeast Educational TV
Everette Holle, WVTM-TV executive, U.S. Army general, Birmingham, retired
Joe Holloway, Civil Rights era photographer, chief photographer, AP Atlanta, deceased
Steven Howard, chief copy editor, Anniston Star
Gerald Hyche, business editor, Mobile Register
Robert F. Inman, WBTV anchor, Charlote, novelist, playwright
Jim Jacobson, editor, Birmingham News, retired
Eric Johnson, WSB advertising director, Atlanta, retired
Edith Johnson, TV actress, Atlanta, retired
Tom Johnston, Chicago advertising executive
Rick Journey, WBRC-TV anchor
William B. Keller, vice president, PR, Alabama Power Company, owner, Keller Communications
Andrea Kirby, Kirby Communication, former CBS sports
Al Kitchen, Atlanta advertising executive
Bonnie LaBresh, development director, University of Alabama
James LaMoreaux, president/editor, P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates, Tuscaloosa (journalism minor)
Angie Lamoli, manager, Phototechnology, AP New Orleans
Joe Langston, WBRC-TV anchor and Jacksonville State professor, retired
Griffin Lassiter, Alabama Power public relations executive
Frank Lee, president, Luckie and Forney PR, Birmingham, retired
Marsha Lefkovits, international public relations executive, Washington, D.C.
Bryan Long, bureau chief, Atlanta Journal and Constitution
James T. Lynagh Jr., president, Multimedia Corp., retired
William M. Joyner, advertising director, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Harry Mabry, president, Anniston Broadcasting, retired
Lisa Malone, Voice of NASA Launch Control
Donna Maltbie, editorial page editor, Gadsden Times
David Mattingly, environmental reporter/special topics anchor, CNN Atlanta
Felecia Mason, executive director, Alabama Press Association
Mark Mayfield, editor, House Beautiful
Jonathan McElvy, publisher, Demopolis Times
Kevin McGill, legislative reporter, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Jannell McGrew, race and religion reporter, Montgomery Advertiser
Clint Milstead, public relations executive, Birmingham, deceased
John Morgan, database editor, Birmingham News
Bob Morrisette, owner/publisher, Atmore Advance, deceased
Edward Mullins, journalism educator
William F. O’Connor Jr., president, Business Council of Alabama
Janet Hall O’Neill, anchor, WBRC-TV, Birmingham
Nancy Parker, anchor, Fox8-TV, New Orleans
Christy Parsons, legislative reporter, Chicago Tribune
Leroy Paul, president, AFLAC Broadcasting, Columbus, Ga., retired
R. Douglas Pearson, publisher, Jasper Daily Mountain Eagle
Lee Perryman, assistant vice president for technology, AP Washington
Jon A. Petrovich, first president CNN Headline News
Charles Porter, publisher, Inner City News, Mobile, first African-American to receive graduate degree in mass communication, University of Alabama
Phil Rawls, Associated Press Montgomery, reporter
Jerry Ray, Florida public relations executive
Paul Raymon, general manager, WAGA-TV, Atlanta, retired
Crawford Rice, president, Gaylord Broadcasting, Oklahoma City, retired
Linda Robbins, copy editor, Lakeland Ledger
Chris Roberts, database editor, Columbia State
Mack D. Secord, public relations executive, Atlanta, retired
Doug Segrest, assistant sports editor, Birmingham News
Stephen Sewell, vice president, Marketing and Business Information, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
Barrett Shelton Jr., publisher/owner, Decatur Daily
Steven Shipowitz, vice president, CNN Airport News
Debra B. Shriver, vice president, chief communication officer, Hearst Corporation, New York
Ben Shurett, publisher, Fort Payne Times-Journal
Stanley T. Siegal, TV executive, retired
Chet Simmons, co-founder, ESPN
David Simpson, deputy metro editor, Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Hazel Brannon Smith, Pulitzer Prize winning Mississippi editor, deceased
Jack Smith, editor, Eufaula Tribune
M.D. Smith, Huntsville TV and Internet executive
Tom Somerville, Montgomery advertising executive
Lawrence Specker, Mobile Register entertainment columnist
Orsen Spivey owner/publisher, Geneva Reaper, deceased
Bill Stewart owner/publisher, Monroe Journal, deceased
Jim Stewart, Foley broadcast executive and owner
Sherrel Wheeler Stewart, assistant metro editor, Birmingham News
Judy Stone, executive director, Alabama Public Television, retired
Gay Talese, writer
Julius E. Talton, owner, Talton Communications, Selma
André J. Taylor, vice president, communications, Alagasco
Bailey Thomson, educator/journalist/activist
Dolph Tillotson, publisher, Galveston County Daily News, vice president, Southern Newspapers Inc., Houston
Mary Tillotson, CNN anchor, semi-retired
Anne Tillotson Land, retired Tuscaloosa News editor, now a Tuscaloosa bankruptcy attorney
Bill Todd, vice president, 02Ideas, advertising and public relations, Birmingham
Manuel Torres, reporter, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Terry Troncale, editorial page editor, New Orleans Times Picayune
Jerry Underwood, business editor, Birmingham News
Alf Van Hoose, sports editor, Birmingham News, deceased
Ann Wood Waldron, writer, Princeton, N.J., semi-retired
Bob Ward, managing editor, Huntsville Times, retired
Sela Ward, motion picture and TV actress
Jack Wheat, Tallahasee bureau, Miami Herald
Kerry Whipple, editor, Natchez Democrat
Wayne Whitt, managing editor, Nashville Tennessean, retired
Keith Williams, retired advertising director, WBRC-TV, Birmingham
James R. Williams, president, AP Broadcast, Washington, D.C.
Nancy Wood, owner, Wood Communications, Atlanta
David Woods, owner/general manager, WCOV-TV, Montgomery
Tom Wright, editor, Decatur Daily
Regina Wright, news editor, Decatur Daily
Michael Wright, editor, Washington Monthly
Tara Young, reporter, New Orleans Times-Picayune
Rick Young, AP bureau, Atlanta
Charlie Zeanah, VP public relations, Ethyl Corp., Voice of Crimson Tide, deceased

4. What records are kept of graduate employment histories? How are alumni records maintained?

Employment histories are spotty. For some alumni, we have fairly complete histories, for others little or nothing. We have a dual system. The UA National Alumni Association maintains databases on all graduates, including ours, and the College maintains a database on graduates since 1973, when the College was founded. We have transferred to our database most of the graduates before that who were on the Arts and Sciences database. The departments share the responsibility for maintaining the database. Full employment histories are not maintained, but the past few jobs are recorded on both databases. Notations are made in the record for major awards (such as ASNE, NAB and Pulitzers) and for elections to the Board of Visitors, Hall of Fame and Outstanding Alumni awards.

5. Discuss current placement statistics.

With more than 8,000 alumni, it’s a big task to compile histories on all or even a majority. Beginning in 2001, the University began gathering e-mail addresses of all alumni, and its addresses for mailings, with help from the College, are fairly accurate. With alumni addresses, we will be able to contact alumni for a variety of purposes, including tracking their employment histories and requesting their participation in on-campus activities and asking them to join our alumni support group, the Capstone Communication Society. We have received funds from the Knight Foundation and Gannett Foundation to do employment tracking of students who attend our Minority Journalism Workshop. That database is quite complete now, with college attended and current employment of more than 300 “alumni” of the program. This database is used to help newspapers and other employers locate minority journalists.

As part of a requirement to receive funds from the APA Journalism Foundation, the Journalism department conducts an annual survey of graduating seniors. The most recent survey shows very few journalism graduates remained unemployed and this has been typical for journalism graduates, with a few exceptions, for the past 20 years.

Here are the results of the most recent survey, conducted in July 2002 (data for the other departments are not available).

Employment of B.A. and M.A. graduates in
Journalism and percent of total
No. Percent
Newspapers above 10,000 circulation: 7 13
Newspapers below 10,000: 18 34
New Media/Web: 3 6
Newspaper/Web combination: 1 2
Broadcast and Cable: 2 4
Public Relations: 3 6
Teaching: 1 2
Military: 2 4
Graduate School: 4 8
Magazines: 3 6
Nonmedia but employed: 5 9
Unemployed: 4 8
Total: 53 100

Newspapers: 25
Dailies: 11
Nondailies: 14

Other media: 8
Nonmedia: 5

The placement office, headed by Jim Oakley, assists all departments. He probably spends more time helping advertising and public relations students because there are more of them.

Our surveys of former and current students have a common theme: Students want more help getting internships and jobs. Other schools report this is a common theme with their students, too.

We do not have year-by-year statistics on placement results for departments other than Journalism and those cover only the past seven years.
6. Discuss surveys measuring current students’ satisfaction with the unit’s program, if available. How has information gathered contributed to changes in the unit’s curriculum or other aspects?

Results of two surveys, a student satisfaction survey conducted in 2002, and a student needs survey conducted in 1998, were discussed in Part II, Section 4 — Student Records/Advising.

A survey of graduates of the Class of 1998 is only partially complete. An addendum will be filed with ACEJMC at that time and also sent to the site team.

7. Discuss evidence of student achievement revealed in exit interviews with graduating seniors, if available.

Undergraduate

The deans and department heads do not systematically conduct exit interviews with graduating seniors. However, they do talk with students in the course of their duties as advisers, counselors and instructors. They also talk with their faculty about student achievement. They examine transcripts, portfolios and resumes. They speak with intern directors and recruiters. Here is a summary of their observations that emerge from these observations:

C&IS majors are a mixture of liberal arts courses (many of them taken as part of the minor); lectures, seminars and labs in the major; and lectures in mass communication (with emphasis on theory, research, law, history, diversity and media processes). From talking with students, examining their portfolios, observing their work in class, on student media, as members of student organizations (we sponsor about 20), talking with their intern supervisors and recruiters and in many other ways, the faculty acquire a keen understanding of their students’ strengths and weaknesses. From these multiple contacts, the faculty conclude that many students are reasonably well prepared for a professional career and/or graduate study by the middle of their senior year, especially if they have been active on student media and have had an internship, and most of the rest reach that stage by the end of their senior year. By then, most have acquired the essential skills and have developed the motivation to be successful in a highly competitive field, but a number never quite develop either the skills or the motivation to become a successful professional communicator. Still, if they have gone through our program, and the University’s general education curriculum, they will have acquired a versatile education that they can use in a variety of endeavors. And that’s fine.
Our undergraduate curricula focus on the basics — writing for a variety of media, reporting, graphics/visuals, editing for a variety of media, project research, client problem-solving, design, print, Web and broadcast production, management communication law, theory and research. To that is added the perspective of a liberal arts education (primarily from course in the College of Arts and Sciences). Our multiple contacts with our students convinces us that most know how and have the drive to gather information, solve the problems and produce quality content in their specialty. Through quizzes and tests, from reading their papers and stories, from examining their portfolios, and in other ways we form a judgment about their ability to use the English language, analyze communication problems, develop solutions to those problems, present content to a variety of audiences and work well with others. Through outside study, lectures, use of the library and Internet, they have learned to add depth and breadth to their productions and learned how to place them in the marketplace. They have learned to meet deadlines and how to use their time well. They have learned the basic technical tools of layout and design and the standard software — QuarkXpress, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Web packages such as GoLive or DreamWeaver, and various digital editors such as FinalCutPro and Media 100. Most have learned to use a conventional and digital still camera and a smaller number have learned to shoot video, though all have been well-schooled in visual communication. All can write the basic press release and broadcast story. In short, they are entry-level competent.

But we also see from multiple contacts a number of weaknesses in our students, weaknesses that reflect their backgrounds, the times we live in and failures of the teaching/learning process, some of which remain a mystery. Despite constant emphasis in the classroom and in syllabi, many students have a poor grasp of current events, U.S. and world history and literature; some lack the ability to write/produce the narrative or documentary story or write/produce stories that deal with the complex issues of our time: education, taxes, race, money, religion, politics, international relations. Some lack the know-how to bring their viewers, readers and consumers the local news and information from a global perspective. Contact with our students in multiple settings shows us that too few read serious books and magazines or watch/listen to serious broadcast productions. Many have only the most rudimentary quantitative skills — for example, very few undergraduate students know how to prepare and analyze statistical data — a weakness that will prevent some from moving into management positions later in their careers.

The short answer to this question is that through multiple means, though not through exit interviews, faculty and administrators have a good feel for the achievements, and shortcomings, of our undergraduate students. The long answer is that we still have much to do to raise the achievement level of many of our students.

Master’s programs

The filter of selective admissions, graduate record exams, grade point average requirements and statements of motivation that accompany applications, problems cited in the introductory part of this question are lessened but not eliminated at the graduate level according to the directors of the two professional graduate programs in the College, Yorgo Pasadeos (APR, until fall 2002) and Bailey Thomson (Journalism). Some entering master’s students, with little or no background in mass communication skills or conceptual courses such as media law, are required to take undergraduate courses in reporting, editing and research methods to get up to speed with those who do bring backgrounds in these areas to the programs. This remediation prescription follows a careful analysis of the student’s application materials.

8. Describe the methods the unit uses to communicate regularly with alumni, such as newsletters or other publications. Attach copies of the most recent issues.

Copies of the most recent issues of the Communicator are included in Appendix 7, Publications and Brochures.

The College uses several vehicles to communicate with alumni, among them:
— mailer on the annual Homecoming reception
— invitation to Board of Visitors annual meeting
— invitation to Hall of Fame annual induction ceremony
— invitation and program of the annual Cason Award Banquet and public and press symposium
— invitation to the joint student/alumni Honors Day ceremony
— invitations to other special events, speakers and celebrations

9. Describe the involvement of alumni in educational and public-service programs, including placement, internships, fund-raising, curriculum development, etc.

Alumni and friends (most of whom are connected with media industries and have University of Alabama connections though did not major in the mass communication disciplines at UA) play a major role in the ongoing progress and development of the College. Here are some examples:

• The Board of Visitors (40 of 60 are UA graduates) plays the major advisory for the College. The board’s main purposes are to advise and assist the College with respect to long-range planning; fund raising (especially major gifts and endowments); to serve as an advocate for the College, its faculty, students and programs; to assist with external relations and positioning of the College with the public and professions; encourage interaction between the board, College, faculty and students; assist with internships and job placements. The board meets at least once a year and the Executive Committee of the Board meets several times a year. The board has committees that actively work in all of these areas (see Board of Visitors Director in Appendix 7, Publications and Brochures).

• Capstone Communication Society. This is the College’s divisional alumni association. Many of its members are also active in the National Alumni Association. This group sponsors the College’s annual Honors Day ceremony each April during which students and alumni receive awards and honors. CCS also sponsors regional meetings with alumni and representatives of the College, the Annual Homecoming Reception, professional development workshops and other activities. There are approximately 500 dues paying members. The average payment is $50 each. It has founded one endowed scholarship for the College and its annual dues support the production and distribution of the Communicator, the C&IS newsletter.

The chair of Journalism serves as co-chair of Alabama Center for Open Government, on the educational committee of the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation and on the educational committee of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. The chair of TCF and Pam Doyle, associate professor in TCF, serve, respectively, on the educational committees of the Alabama Broadcasters Association and the Alabama AP Broadcasters Association. The director of the ICR serves on a number of national policy-making telecommunication and technology boards. Through all of these contacts the College keeps abreast of where the industry is going and our representatives bring these ideas back to their faculty, students and programs. Our representatives also keep these industry and research groups abreast of developments in mass communication education. There are many specific examples we could site. Here are three:

For years, Alabama broadcasters complained that university broadcast curricula were doing little to advance the art of sales and marketing in the industry. Alabama’s Rob Potter, TCF assistant professor, and Loy Singleton, TCF chair, listened. Today they meet annually with the Alabama Broadcasters Association at its convention on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and their students make sales and programming presentations and interact with marketing and program directors from Alabama’s broadcast industry. The idea exchange has led more emphasis on sales and marketing in the UA curriculum while providing a professional development enrichment for the convention delegates. The department is considering adding a emphasis in sales and marketing at the undergraduate and graduate level.

For years, the Journalism Department urged the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation to make high school journalism a high priority in its project funding. Two years ago the Foundation increased its support of high school journalism programs and they now receive the largest amount of funding of any area funded through the endowment. Most of those funds go to the College’s and ASPA high school and minority journalism programs. The APA makes its membership and newspapers available to assist with workshops, production and advising.

From their side, APA members have urged the Journalism Department to give more emphasis to newspaper management and marketing. This year the department added a new faculty member with that specialty and is offering a media management course for the first time in many years. The Foundation also provided a small grant to bring newspaper management specialists to campus for brief visits.

Keeping abreast of trends in Advertising and Public Relations through their contacts with professionals in advertising and public relations, the Advertising and Public Relations department changed its advertising and public relations program in 1996 from a predominantly research-oriented program to one that emphasizes integrated marketing communication. Today, its master’s program is in great demand and has earned the respect of industry throughout the industry.

10. Describe the involvement of alumni in advisory or visitor’s boards, if any. How have reviews or reports by such boards contributed to changes in the unit’s curriculum or other aspects?

Much of this is covered in the previous two or three questions. In brief, the advisory groups have helped the College see that it not only must be good but also must market its assets better through communicating its achievements. A committee of the Board of Visitors is working with the dean to do this. The Board, noting that many research awards were available to faculty from a variety of sources, decided to create a cash award for outstanding teaching.

The dean and the CCS board of directors noted that students benefited little from the annual awards banquet usually held in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham and decided to combine the student and alumni honors ceremony.

Annual briefings by the faculty to the various boards have served to keep the boards abreast of developments in the College. These occur during Honors Week, Hall of Fame and Cason Award activities and others.

11. Describe the program used to track graduates to determine the extent to which the unit’s objectives are realized. How has information gathered contributed to changes in the unit’s curriculum or other aspects?

The College conducts a survey to gather data for the Self-Study. That data is still being gathered for the class of 1998 and will be included in a separate mailing to ACEJMC offices and visitors by October 1. Previous surveys have indicated a high degree of satisfaction by alums of their experience at the University of Alabama. Contributions to the curriculum and other aspects are covered in the previous question.

12. Summarize responses from alumni to surveys or other measures of their degree of satisfaction with the educational experiences provided by the unit. How has information gathered contributed to changes in the unit’s curriculum or other aspects?

Formal surveys and continuing contacts with alumni have indicated, as mentioned, a high level of satisfaction with the programs taken by alumni. There are, however, some areas of recurring concern. The most frequently mentioned shortcoming mentioned by former students is the assistance the College provides for acquiring internships and jobs. Even though the College maintains its own placement office and many faculty are involve in helping students find jobs and find better jobs, former students want more. Specifically, they say they would like to be informed about internship opportunities on a more systematic basis and that they would like to be notified more systematically about full-time job opportunities both while still on campus and after graduation. Alumni would also like more opportunities for continuing professional development sponsored by their alma mater, more timely notices about campus events they might attend and more and more often news of achievements by current faculty and students.